mh_parser/vol_split/15 - Ezra/Chapter 7.xml

<div2 id="Ez.viii" n="viii" next="Ez.ix" prev="Ez.vii" progress="91.07%" title="Chapter VII">
<h2 id="Ez.viii-p0.1">E Z R A</h2>
<h3 id="Ez.viii-p0.2">CHAP. VII.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Ez.viii-p1">Ezra's precious name saluted us, at first, in the
title of the book, but in the history we have not met with it till
this chapter introduces him into public action in another reign,
that of Artaxerxes. Zerubbabel and Jeshua we will suppose, by this
time, to have grown old, if not gone off; nor do we hear any more
of Haggai and Zechariah; they have finished their testimony. What
shall become of the cause of God and Israel when these useful
instruments are laid aside? Trust God, who has the residue of the
Spirit, to raise up others in their room. Ezra here, and Nehemiah
in the next book, are as serviceable in their days as those were in
theirs. Here is, I. An account, in general, of Ezra himself, and of
his expedition to Jerusalem for the public good, <scripRef id="Ez.viii-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.7.1-Ezra.7.10" parsed="|Ezra|7|1|7|10" passage="Ezr 7:1-10">ver. 1-10</scripRef>. II. A copy of the commission
which Artaxerxes gave him, <scripRef id="Ez.viii-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.7.11-Ezra.7.26" parsed="|Ezra|7|11|7|26" passage="Ezr 7:11-26">ver.
11-26</scripRef>. III. His thankfulness to God for it, <scripRef id="Ez.viii-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.7.27-Ezra.7.28" parsed="|Ezra|7|27|7|28" passage="Ezr 7:27,28">ver. 27, 28</scripRef>. The next chapter will
give us a more particular narrative of his associates, his journey,
and his arrival at Jerusalem.</p>
<scripCom id="Ez.viii-p0.1_1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.7" parsed="|Ezra|7|0|0|0" passage="Ezr 7" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Ez.viii-p0.2_1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.7.1-Ezra.7.10" parsed="|Ezra|7|1|7|10" passage="Ezr 7:1-10" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ezra.7.1-Ezra.7.10">
<h4 id="Ez.viii-p1.6">Ezra's Arrival at Jerusalem. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Ez.viii-p1.7">b. c.</span> 457.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ez.viii-p2">1 Now after these things, in the reign of
Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of
Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,   2 The son of Shallum, the son
of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,   3 The son of Amariah, the son
of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,   4 The son of Zerahiah, the
son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki,   5 The son of Abishua, the son
of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest:
  6 This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he <i>was</i> a ready
scribe in the law of Moses, which the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ez.viii-p2.1">Lord</span> God of Israel had given: and the king
granted him all his request, according to the hand of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ez.viii-p2.2">Lord</span> his God upon him.   7 And there
went up <i>some</i> of the children of Israel, and of the priests,
and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the
Nethinims, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the
king.   8 And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which
<i>was</i> in the seventh year of the king.   9 For upon the
first <i>day</i> of the first month began he to go up from Babylon,
and on the first <i>day</i> of the fifth month came he to
Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him.  
10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ez.viii-p2.3">Lord</span>, and to do <i>it,</i> and to teach in
Israel statutes and judgments.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.viii-p3">Here is, I. Ezra's pedigree. He was one of
the sons of Aaron, a priest. Him God chose to be an instrument of
good to Israel, that he might put honour upon the priesthood, the
glory of which had been much eclipsed by the captivity. He is said
to be <i>the son of Seraiah,</i> that Seraiah, as is supposed, whom
the king of Babylon put to death when he sacked Jerusalem,
<scripRef id="Ez.viii-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.25.18 Bible:2Kgs.25.21" parsed="|2Kgs|25|18|0|0;|2Kgs|25|21|0|0" passage="2Ki 25:18,21">2 Kings xxv. 18, 21</scripRef>. If
we take the shortest computation, it was seventy-five years since
Seraiah died; many reckon it much longer, and, because they suppose
Ezra called out in the prime of his time to public service, do
therefore think that Seraiah was not his immediate parent, but his
grandfather or great-grandfather, but that he was the first eminent
person that occurred in his genealogy upwards, which is carried up
here as high as Aaron, yet leaving out many for brevity-sake, which
may be supplied from <scripRef id="Ez.viii-p3.2" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.6.4-1Chr.6.81" parsed="|1Chr|6|4|6|81" passage="1Ch 6:4-81">1 Chron. vi.
4</scripRef>, &amp;c. He was a younger brother, or his father was
Jozadak, the father of Jeshua, so that he was not high priest, but
nearly allied to the high priest.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.viii-p4">II. His character. Though of the younger
house, his personal qualifications made him very eminent. 1. He was
a man of great learning, a scribe, a <i>ready scribe, in the law of
Moses,</i> <scripRef id="Ez.viii-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.7.6" parsed="|Ezra|7|6|0|0" passage="Ezr 7:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>. He
was very much conversant with the scriptures, especially the
writings of Moses, had the words ready and was well acquainted with
the sense and meaning of them. It is to be feared that learning ran
low among the Jews in Babylon; but Ezra was instrumental to revive
it. The Jews say that he collected and collated all the copies of
the law he could find out, and published an accurate edition of it,
with all the prophetical books, historical and poetical, that were
given by divine inspiration, and so made up the canon of the Old
Testament, with the addition of the prophecies and histories of his
own time. If he was raised up of God, and qualified and inclined to
do this, all generations have reason to call him blessed, and to
bless God for him. God sent to the Jews <i>prophets and
scribes,</i> <scripRef id="Ez.viii-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:Matt.23.34" parsed="|Matt|23|34|0|0" passage="Mt 23:34">Matt. xxiii.
34</scripRef>. Ezra went under the latter denomination. Now that
prophecy was about to cease it was time to promote
scripture-knowledge, pursuant to the counsel of God by the last of
the prophets, <scripRef id="Ez.viii-p4.3" osisRef="Bible:Mal.4.4" parsed="|Mal|4|4|0|0" passage="Mal 4:4">Mal. iv. 4</scripRef>.
<i>Remember the law of Moses.</i> Gospel ministers are called
<i>scribes instructed to the kingdom of heaven</i> (<scripRef id="Ez.viii-p4.4" osisRef="Bible:Matt.13.52" parsed="|Matt|13|52|0|0" passage="Mt 13:52">Matt. xiii. 52</scripRef>), New-Testament
scribes. It was a pity that such a worthy name as this should be
worn, as it was in the degenerate ages of the Jewish church, by men
who were professed enemies to Christ and his gospel (<i>Woe unto
you, scribes and Pharisees</i>), who were learned in the letter of
the law, but strangers to the spirit of it. 2. He was a man of
great piety and holy zeal (<scripRef id="Ez.viii-p4.5" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.7.10" parsed="|Ezra|7|10|0|0" passage="Ezr 7:10"><i>v.</i>
10</scripRef>): <i>He had prepared his heart to seek the law of the
Lord,</i> &amp;c. (1.) That which he chose for his study was <i>the
law of the Lord.</i> The Chaldeans, among whom he was born and
bred, were famed for literature, especially the study of the stars,
to which, being a studious man, we may suppose that Ezra was
tempted to apply himself. But he got over the temptation; the law
of his God was more to him than all the writings of their magicians
and astrologers, which he knew enough of with good reason to
despise them. (2.) He <i>sought the law of the Lord,</i> that is,
he made it his business to enquire into it, searched the
scriptures, and sought the knowledge of God, of his mind and will,
in the scriptures, which is to be found there, but not without
seeking. (3.) He made conscience of doing according to it; he set
it before him as his rule, formed his sentiments and temper by it,
and managed himself in his whole conversation according to it. This
use we must make of our knowledge of the scriptures; for happy are
we if we do what we know of the will of God. (4.) He set himself
<i>to teach Israel the statutes and judgments</i> of that law. What
he knew he was willing to communicate for the good of others; for
<i>the ministration of the Spirit is given to every man to profit
withal.</i> But observe the method: he first learned and then
taught, sought the law of the Lord and so laid up a good treasure,
and then instructed others and laid out what he had laid up. He
also first did and then taught, practised the commandments himself
and then directed others in the practice of them; thus his example
confirmed his doctrine. (5.) He <i>prepared his heart</i> to do all
this, or he fixed his heart. He took pains in his studies, and
thoroughly furnished himself for what he designed, and then put on
resolution to proceed and persevere in them, and thus he became a
ready scribe. Moses in Egypt, Ezra in Babylon, and both in
captivity, were wonderfully fitted for eminent services to the
church.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.viii-p5">III. His expedition to Jerusalem for the
good of his country: <i>He went up from Babylon</i> (<scripRef id="Ez.viii-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.7.6" parsed="|Ezra|7|6|0|0" passage="Ezr 7:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>), and, in four months'
time, came to Jerusalem, <scripRef id="Ez.viii-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.7.8" parsed="|Ezra|7|8|0|0" passage="Ezr 7:8"><i>v.</i>
8</scripRef>. It was strange that such a man as he staid so long in
Babylon after his brethren had gone up; but God sent him not
thither till he had work for him to do there; and none went but
those <i>whose spirits God raised</i> to go up. Some think that
this Artaxerxes was the same with that Darius whose decree we had
(<scripRef id="Ez.viii-p5.3" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.6.1-Ezra.6.12" parsed="|Ezra|6|1|6|12" passage="Ezr 6:1-12"><i>ch.</i> vi.</scripRef>), and
that Ezra came the very year after the temple was finished: that
was the sixth year, this the seventh (<scripRef id="Ez.viii-p5.4" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.7.8" parsed="|Ezra|7|8|0|0" passage="Ezr 7:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>), so Dr. Lightfoot. My worthy and
learned friend, lately deceased, Mr. Talents, in his chronological
tables, places it about fifty-seven years after the finishing of
the temple; others further on. I have only to observe, 1. How kind
the king was to him. He <i>granted him all his request,</i>
whatever he desired to put him into a capacity to serve his
country. 2. How kind his people were to him. When he went many more
went with him, because they desired not to stay in Babylon when he
had gone thence, and because they would venture to dwell in
Jerusalem when he had gone thither. 3. How kind his God was to him.
He obtained this favour from his king and country by <i>the good
hand of the Lord that was upon him,</i> <scripRef id="Ez.viii-p5.5" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.7.6 Bible:Ezra.7.9" parsed="|Ezra|7|6|0|0;|Ezra|7|9|0|0" passage="Ezr 7:6,9"><i>v.</i> 6, 9</scripRef>. Note, Every creature is that
to us which God makes it to be, and from him our judgment proceeds.
As we must see the events that <i>shall</i> occur in the hand of
God, so we must see the hand of God in the events that <i>do</i>
occur, and acknowledge him with thankfulness when we have reason to
call it his <i>good hand.</i></p>
</div><scripCom id="Ez.viii-p0.3" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.7.11-Ezra.7.26" parsed="|Ezra|7|11|7|26" passage="Ezr 7:11-26" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ezra.7.11-Ezra.7.26">
<h4 id="Ez.viii-p5.7">The Decree of Artaxerxes. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Ez.viii-p5.8">b. c.</span> 457.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ez.viii-p6">11 Now this <i>is</i> the copy of the letter
that the king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe,
<i>even</i> a scribe of the words of the commandments of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ez.viii-p6.1">Lord</span>, and of his statutes to Israel.
  12 Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe
of the law of the God of heaven, perfect <i>peace,</i> and at such
a time.   13 I make a decree, that all they of the people of
Israel, and <i>of</i> his priests and Levites, in my realm, which
are minded of their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go with
thee.   14 Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king, and of his
seven counsellors, to enquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem,
according to the law of thy God which <i>is</i> in thine hand;
  15 And to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his
counsellors have freely offered unto the God of Israel, whose
habitation <i>is</i> in Jerusalem,   16 And all the silver and
gold that thou canst find in all the province of Babylon, with the
freewill offering of the people, and of the priests, offering
willingly for the house of their God which <i>is</i> in Jerusalem:
  17 That thou mayest buy speedily with this money bullocks,
rams, lambs, with their meat offerings and their drink offerings,
and offer them upon the altar of the house of your God which
<i>is</i> in Jerusalem.   18 And whatsoever shall seem good to
thee, and to thy brethren, to do with the rest of the silver and
the gold, that do after the will of your God.   19 The vessels
also that are given thee for the service of the house of thy God,
<i>those</i> deliver thou before the God of Jerusalem.   20
And whatsoever more shall be needful for the house of thy God,
which thou shalt have occasion to bestow, bestow <i>it</i> out of
the king's treasure house.   21 And I, <i>even</i> I
Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers which
<i>are</i> beyond the river, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the
scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be
done speedily,   22 Unto a hundred talents of silver, and to a
hundred measures of wheat, and to a hundred baths of wine, and to
an hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing <i>how
much.</i>   23 Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven,
let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven: for
why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his
sons?   24 Also we certify you, that touching any of the
priests and Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of
this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute,
or custom, upon them.   25 And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of
thy God, that <i>is</i> in thine hand, set magistrates and judges,
which may judge all the people that <i>are</i> beyond the river,
all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know
<i>them</i> not.   26 And whosoever will not do the law of thy
God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily
upon him, whether <i>it be</i> unto death, or to banishment, or to
confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.viii-p7">We have here the commission which the
Persian emperor granted to Ezra, giving him authority to act for
the good of the Jews; and it is very ample and full, and beyond
what could have been expected. The commission runs, we suppose, in
the usual form: <i>Artaxerxes, King of kings.</i> This however is
too high a title for any mortal man to assume; he was indeed king
of some kings, but to speak as if he were king of all kings was to
usurp <i>his</i> prerogative who hath <i>all power both in heaven
and in earth.</i> He sends greeting to his trusty and well-beloved
Ezra, whom he calls a <i>scribe of the law of the God of heaven</i>
(<scripRef id="Ez.viii-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.7.12" parsed="|Ezra|7|12|0|0" passage="Ezr 7:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>), a title
which (it seems by this) Ezra valued himself by, and desired no
other, no, not when he was advanced to the proconsular dignity. He
reckoned it more his honour to be a <i>scribe of God's law</i> than
to be a peer or prince of the empire. Let us observe the articles
of this commission.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.viii-p8">I. He gives Ezra leave to go up to
Jerusalem, and as many of his countrymen as pleased to go up with
him, <scripRef id="Ez.viii-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.7.13" parsed="|Ezra|7|13|0|0" passage="Ezr 7:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>. He and
they were captives, and therefore they would not quit his dominions
without his royal license.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.viii-p9">II. He gives him authority to enquire into
the affairs of Judah and Jerusalem, <scripRef id="Ez.viii-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.7.14" parsed="|Ezra|7|14|0|0" passage="Ezr 7:14"><i>v.</i> 14</scripRef>. The rule of his enquiry was to
be <i>the law of his God, which was in his hand.</i> He must
enquire whether the Jews, in their religion, had and did according
to that law—whether the temple was built, the priesthood was
settled, and the sacrifices were offered conformably to the divine
appointment. If, upon enquiry, he found any thing amiss, he must
see to get it amended, and, like Titus in Crete, must <i>set in
order the things that were wanting,</i> <scripRef id="Ez.viii-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:Titus.1.5" parsed="|Titus|1|5|0|0" passage="Tit 1:5">Tit. i. 5</scripRef>. Thus is God's law magnified and
made honourable, and thus are the Jews restored to their ancient
privilege of governing themselves by that law, and are no longer
under <i>the statutes that were not good,</i> the statutes of their
oppressors, <scripRef id="Ez.viii-p9.3" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.20.25" parsed="|Ezek|20|25|0|0" passage="Eze 20:25">Ezek. xx.
25</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.viii-p10">III. He entrusts him with the money that
was freely given by the king himself and his counsellors, and
collected among his subjects, for the service of the house of God,
<scripRef id="Ez.viii-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.7.15-Ezra.7.16" parsed="|Ezra|7|15|7|16" passage="Ezr 7:15,16"><i>v.</i> 15, 16</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.viii-p11">1. Let this be taken notice of, (1.) To the
honour of God, as the one only living and true God;' for even those
that worshipped other gods were so convinced of the sovereignty of
the God of Israel that they were willing to incur expenses in order
to recommend themselves to his favour. See <scripRef id="Ez.viii-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.45.12 Bible:Ps.68.26" parsed="|Ps|45|12|0|0;|Ps|68|26|0|0" passage="Ps 45:12,68:26">Ps. xlv. 12; lxviii. 26</scripRef>. (2.) To the
praise of this heathen king, that he honoured the God of Israel
though his worshippers were a despicable handful of poor men, who
were not able to bear the charges of their own religion and were
now his vassals, and that, though he was not wrought upon to quit
his own superstitions, yet he protected and encouraged the Jews in
their religion, and did not only say, <i>Be you warmed, and be you
filled,</i> but gave them such things as they needed. (3.) To the
reproach of the memory of the wicked kings of Judah. Those that had
been trained up in the knowledge and worship of the <i>God of
Israel,</i> and had his law and his prophets, often plundered and
impoverished the temple; but here a heathen prince enriched it.
Thus afterwards the gospel was rejected by the Jews, but welcomed
by the Gentiles. See <scripRef id="Ez.viii-p11.2" osisRef="Bible:Rom.11.11" parsed="|Rom|11|11|0|0" passage="Ro 11:11">Rom. xi.
11</scripRef>, <i>Through their fall salvation has come to the
Gentiles.</i> <scripRef id="Ez.viii-p11.3" osisRef="Bible:Acts.13.46" parsed="|Acts|13|46|0|0" passage="Ac 13:46">Acts xiii.
46</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.viii-p12">2. We are here told that Ezra was
entrusted, (1.) To receive this money and to carry it to Jerusalem;
for he was a man of known integrity, whom they could confide in,
that he would not convert to his own use the least part of that
which was given to the public. We find Paul going to Jerusalem upon
such an errand, <i>to bring alms to his nation and offerings,</i>
<scripRef id="Ez.viii-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Acts.24.17" parsed="|Acts|24|17|0|0" passage="Ac 24:17">Acts xxiv. 17</scripRef>. (2.) To lay
out this money in the best manner, in sacrifices to be offered upon
the altar of God (<scripRef id="Ez.viii-p12.2" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.7.17" parsed="|Ezra|7|17|0|0" passage="Ezr 7:17"><i>v.</i>
17</scripRef>), and in whatever else he or his brethren thought fit
(<scripRef id="Ez.viii-p12.3" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.7.18" parsed="|Ezra|7|18|0|0" passage="Ezr 7:18"><i>v.</i> 18</scripRef>), with this
limitation only that it should be <i>after the will of their
God,</i> which they were better acquainted with than the king was.
Let the <i>will of our God</i> be always our rule in our expenses,
and particularly in what we lay out for his service. God's work
must always be done according to his will. Besides money, he had
vessels also given him for the service of the temple, <scripRef id="Ez.viii-p12.4" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.7.19" parsed="|Ezra|7|19|0|0" passage="Ezr 7:19"><i>v.</i> 19</scripRef>. Cyrus restored what of
right belonged to the temple, but these were given over and above:
thus it <i>receiveth its own with usury.</i> These he must
<i>deliver before the God of Jerusalem,</i> as intended for his
honour, there where he had <i>put his name.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.viii-p13">IV. He draws him a bill, or warrant rather,
upon the <i>treasurers on that side the river,</i> requiring them
to furnish him with what he had occasion for out of the king's
revenues, and to place it to the king's account, <scripRef id="Ez.viii-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.7.20 Bible:Ezra.7.22" parsed="|Ezra|7|20|0|0;|Ezra|7|22|0|0" passage="Ezr 7:20,22"><i>v.</i> 20, 22</scripRef>. This was considerately
done; for Ezra, having yet to enquire into the sate of things, knew
not what he should have occasion for and was modest in his demand.
It was also kindly done, and evinced a great affection to the
temple and a great confidence in Ezra. It is the interest of
princes and great men to use their wealth and power for the support
and encouragement of religion. What else are great revenues good
for but that they enable men to do much good of this kind if they
have but hearts to do it?</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.viii-p14">V. He charges him to let nothing be wanting
that was requisite to be done in or about the temple for the honour
of the God of Israel. Observe, in this charge (<scripRef id="Ez.viii-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.7.23" parsed="|Ezra|7|23|0|0" passage="Ezr 7:23"><i>v.</i> 23</scripRef>), 1. How honourably he speaks of
God. He had called him before <i>the God of Jerusalem;</i> but
here, lest it should be thought that he looked upon him as a local
deity, he calls him twice, with great veneration, the <i>God of
heaven.</i> 2. How strictly he eyes the word and law of God, which,
it is likely, he had read and admired: "Whatsoever is <i>commanded
by your God</i>" (whose institutions, though he wrote himself
<i>King of kings,</i> he would not presume in the least iota or
tittle to alter or add to) "let it be done, let it be diligently
done, with care and speed." And, 3. How solicitously he deprecates
the wrath of God: <i>Why should there be wrath against the
realm?</i> The neglect and contempt of religion bring the judgments
of God upon kings and kingdoms; and the likeliest expedient to turn
away his wrath, when it is ready to break out against a people, is
to support and encourage religion. Would we secure our peace and
prosperity? Let us take care that the cause of God be not
starved.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.viii-p15">VI. He exempts all the ministers of the
temple from paying taxes to the government. From the greatest of
the priests to the least of the Nethinim, <i>it shall not be
lawful</i> for the king's officers <i>to impose</i> that <i>toll,
tribute, or custom upon them,</i> which the rest of the king's
subjects paid, <scripRef id="Ez.viii-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.7.24" parsed="|Ezra|7|24|0|0" passage="Ezr 7:24"><i>v.</i>
24</scripRef>. This put a great honour upon them as free denizens
of the empire, and would gain them respect as favourites of the
crown; and it gave them liberty to attend their ministry with more
cheerfulness and freedom. We suppose it was only what they needed
for themselves and their families, and the maintenance of their
ministry, that was hereby allowed to come to them custom-free. If
any of them should take occasion from this privilege to meddle in
trade and merchandise, they justly lost the benefit of it.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.viii-p16">VII. He empowers Ezra to nominate and
appoint judges and magistrates for all the Jews on that side the
river, <scripRef id="Ez.viii-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.7.25-Ezra.7.26" parsed="|Ezra|7|25|7|26" passage="Ezr 7:25,26"><i>v.</i> 25, 26</scripRef>.
It was a great favour to the Jews to have such nobles of
themselves, and especially to have them of Ezra's nomination. 1.
All that <i>knew the laws of Ezra's God</i> (that is, all that
professed the Jewish religion) were to be under the jurisdiction of
these judges, which intimates that they were exempted from the
jurisdiction of the heathen magistrates. 2. These judges were
allowed and encouraged to make proselytes: Let them <i>teach the
laws of God</i> to <i>those that do not know them.</i> Though he
would not turn Jew himself, he cared not how many of his subjects
did. 3. They were authorized to enforce the judgments they gave,
and the orders they made, conformable to <i>the law of God</i>
(which was hereby made <i>the law of the king</i>), with severe
penalties—imprisonment, banishment, fine, or death, according as
their law directed. They were not allowed to make new laws, but
must see the laws of God duly executed; and they were entrusted
with the sword in order that they might be <i>a terror to evil
doers.</i> What could Jehoshaphat, or Hezekiah, or David himself,
as king, have done more for the honour of God and the furtherance
of religion?</p>
</div><scripCom id="Ez.viii-p0.4" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.7.27-Ezra.7.28" parsed="|Ezra|7|27|7|28" passage="Ezr 7:27-28" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ezra.7.27-Ezra.7.28">
<h4 id="Ez.viii-p16.3">Ezra's Thankfulness to God. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Ez.viii-p16.4">b. c.</span> 457.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ez.viii-p17">27 Blessed <i>be</i> the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ez.viii-p17.1">Lord</span> God of our fathers, which hath put <i>such
a thing</i> as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of
the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ez.viii-p17.2">Lord</span> which <i>is</i> in
Jerusalem:   28 And hath extended mercy unto me before the
king, and his counsellors, and before all the king's mighty
princes. And I was strengthened as the hand of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ez.viii-p17.3">Lord</span> my God <i>was</i> upon me, and I gathered
together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.viii-p18">Ezra cannot proceed in his story without
inserting his thankful acknowledgement of the goodness of God to
him and his people in this matter. As soon as he has concluded the
king's commission, instead of subjoining, <i>God save the king</i>
(though that would have been proper enough), he adds, <i>Blessed be
the Lord;</i> for we must <i>in every thing give thanks,</i> and,
whatever occurrences please us, we must own God's hand in them, and
praise his name. Two things Ezra blessed God for:—1. For his
commission. We suppose he kissed the king's hand for it, but that
was not all: <i>Blessed be God</i> (says he) <i>that put such a
thing as this into the king's heart.</i> God can put things into
men's hearts which would not arise there of themselves, and into
their heads too, both by his providence and by his grace, in things
<i>pertaining both to life and godliness.</i> If any good appear to
be in our own hearts, or in the hearts of others, we must own it
was God that put it there, and bless him for it; for it is he that
<i>worketh in us both to will and to do</i> that which is good.
When princes and magistrates act for the suppression of vice, and
the encouragement of religion, we must thank God that <i>put it
into their hearts</i> to do so, as much as if they had granted us
some particular favour. When God's house was built Ezra rejoiced in
what was done to beautify it. We read not of any orders given to
paint or gild it, or to garnish it with precious stones, but to be
sure that the ordinances of God were administered there constantly,
and carefully, and exactly according to the institution; and that
was indeed the beautifying of the temple. 2. For the encouragement
he had to act in pursuance of his commission (<scripRef id="Ez.viii-p18.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.7.28" parsed="|Ezra|7|28|0|0" passage="Ezr 7:28"><i>v.</i> 28</scripRef>): <i>He has extended mercy to
me.</i> The king, in the honour he did him, we may suppose, had an
eye to his merit, and preferred him because he looked upon him to
be a very sensible ingenious man; but he himself ascribes his
preferment purely to God's mercy. It was this that recommended him
to the favour of his prince. Ezra himself was a man of courage, yet
he attributed his encouragement not to his own heart, but to God's
hand: "I was strengthened to undertake the services, <i>as the hand
of the Lord my God was upon me</i> to direct and support me." If
God gives us his hand, we are bold and cheerful; if he withdraws
it, we are weak as water. Whatever service we are enabled to do for
God and our generation, God must have all the glory of it. Strength
for it is derived from him, and therefore the praise of it must be
given to him.</p>
</div></div2>